The issue raises an old question: Must an open, liberal, tolerant (sharply declining?) society be open, liberal, and tolerant to organized groups that are avowedly not open, liberal, and tolerant. During the Cold War, the answer was unabasedly yes, and in such societies various kinds of Marxism-Leninism flourished and their little remnants still exist.

Is Islam altogether a different challenge? That's the question. And if it is significantly different and more threatening--Marxists never taught women and youngsters to be suicide bombers--how do open, liberal, and tolerant societies deal with it? Are they able to deal with it, especially since during the past few decades they have eagerly abandoned their moral centers to secularism.

The trend towards the Burkha has gathered pace in most Western countries.

This goes against our genetic nature , whereby both Men and women want to look to others at all times.
Women will dress nicely when they are going out where other Men and Women will see them (the husband sees them at home all the time).

Both men and Women are flirtatious towards the opposite sex , even after they get married . There is lots of evidence to show that this behavior is genetic , as shown up by the new Behavioral science.
AND IT is believed that the reason for this behavior is because the gene's require a variety of other Gene's to breed with , leading to fewer Genetic problems.

NOW going back to the Burkha.

It is my belief that this dress code has led to a lot of interbreeding , as is so common with Islam.
A study done in Australia, some six years ago on Lebanese Muslims living here , found that they had 4-5 times the genetic defects compared to the local population. Problems included Cleft palates , cross eyed, mental disabilities , limb deformations etc.

It is also my belief that some of the women decide to wear the Burkha because they don't feel flirtatious , only because of Genetic mutilation , where the thought of sex with the opposite sex is very painful.

i totally agree with france's stand.
i taught in a school in which the rule was .."NO head coverings [hats, etc.] yet the muslim students were allowed to wrap up their heads without having any problem! hey!..a kid could claim that the yankee hat he is wearing is a religious symbol..[ being that he worships that team]....but NO..he would face discipline!
i like what the prime minister of australia said----
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I received this one a while back, but I love the message it sends -- wish the US had a leader like this. The e-mail:

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd - Australia

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.

Separately, Rudd angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote:

'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians.. '

'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom'

'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society . Learn the language!'

'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.'

'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.'

'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.'

'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.'

All empires wanted to control Europe, Ghengis Khan, the Otomans, the turks the Muslims, none of them did it, all of these empires always proclaimed their hate against europe, europe must warn of them, do you imagine a christian church in Arabia????Never.. these people, believed in wroeng and bad ideas, their religion never passed a Reform as the christian did , or the jew , so it menans these people are ...with 500 years of lack....

Feel sorry for europe, once ruled the world, and was white protestant-christian-jewish, and now have to feed millions and millions of muslims and africans asians , that in few years will destroy the essence of Europe.........

If they like so much their traditions and religious belifs, why dont they stay in their country of origin, as a mexican legal inmigrant in the US Iam doing my best to fit in in this country and the traditions and religious belifs stay in the privacy of my home, (but since im a Catholic i dont have any problem.).
Or like the saying goes: When in Rome do the romans.

Some people are arguing that when westerners will be allowed to wear mini-skirts in Saudi Arabia- then a woman will be allowed to wear a head scarf. Do we really want our world o be determined by theirs.

The choice of clothing is a personal choice.I believe that in a democratic country I should be able to choose what I want to wear. I understand that there is a security risk involved- many women would be willing to lift their veil in a bank, airport, police stop, etc.

I am a citizen of the U.S., a woman, and a Christian. This ban is ridiculous! There are numerous accounts of women choosing to stay inside when the veil is banned, or of taking the veil up themselves for personal reasons. Why ban their choice?

If you want to do that-why not ban the whole religion? Or dissident opinion? Or just dictate a dress code of all citizens?

This is Great!!!! I've finally been sensored by the Economist for stating that the whole head cover and burkha, niqab, yadda, yadda, yadda, is nothing more than a way to show male dominance over women. As I said in my other comment before it was removed, the determining factor is what happens when a woman choses not to wear this "so called" inoffensive and stylish garb? Well, c'mon, we all know what happens. You've read it hear in other comments. It's clear that those women are just asking for "it", whatever it happens to be in the mind of any man on the street. I could be a good whipping, beating, raping, etc... And if they have the temerity to complain, well then their male family members will beat them too. Just to be sure the message is clear. And so it goes, 50 percent of their population held in subjugation... This is what's coming to Europe.

There may be wrongs or rights in Islam , but these are very ordinary people , taking refuge in their collectiveness, in the form of their religion.
Most of these people want to be part of French society, they want to obey French laws and value French customs.

BUT then Europe is concentrating on some real idiots, and the overall culture is that of rejection of these people.

Let it go - Include them , don't exclude them ,tolerate the idiots,and maybe they will feel French , and be proud of France.

These people are French , and France will not be able to get rid of them. Don't make them second class citizens , huddling together against the onslaught from the masses.

All said and done, Islam is the fastest growing religion in Europe and US. About 30% of the of these reverts (or converts) are women, most of which, are educated and forward looking. One may ask that if Islam really 'degrades' and 'suppresses' women (as orchestrated by a vast section of the western media), why are these women accepting it as the way of life?

Why does a vast section of the western world, which proclaims 'freedom' and 'equality', has to stop someone from covering themselves? Are not nudity, sex marketing, alcoholism and drug abuse, etc a bigger threat to a nation's social fabric and progress than women who merely want to cover themselves?

If they are forced, then there should be a law to protect their rights.

If scarfs are being banned in parts of Europe, why do they not ban a Nun's heagear? Is it just because its a different colour or a better fabric?

(I am ashamed to sucha a comparison as I respect people who dedicate themselves for preaching religion, but just to explain a point I have made this comparison.)

I totally agree with the sentiment of the article: it is important that we do not compromise our modern liberal viewpoint, including freedom of dress. However, the question for me (and one that is not fully explored here) is whether a women is wearing the burqa out of her choice or because her husband is forcing her to do so; and whether this points to other underlying abuse in the home. Earlier this month in Italy, a Tunisian-born woman was fined for wearing a burqa. The husband responded that he would respect the regulation, but would have to confine his wife at home since the Koran forbade other men to see her face. He is using his erroneous (this is cultural and not from Islamic teachings) and extreme interpretation of the Koran to justify his gross mistreatment of his wife. 'Confine' his wife at home - in modern Europe! That is what I take exception to. If it is truly her choice to wear something that seriously restricts vision and is totally incongruous with the norms of her adopted home, then fine she can wear what she wants (subject to being able to ask to see her face in banks, airports, etc). Especially given the 'confinement' comment, I suggest that the wife's dress is unlikely to be her choice. Shouldn't we try to disseminate our views of equality and freedom throughout our society rather than put up with the veil (pardon the pun) of religious excuse which somehow permits these egomaniacs to abuse their women's rights of freedom?

Although I don't agree with the idea that women need to be covered to be chaste, the point here, that France and the other European countries are missing is FREEDOM. Our ancestors fought so hard to gain the freedoms that we enjoy only for us to start limiting them today. A multicultural society is a difficult place to live yet I prefer that to a society that completely dictates what I must do and who I must be.

The argument that Islamic nations prohibit western dress therefore western nations should do the same with Islamic dress is childish. They did it so we can too," one would hope we gave up that argument after nursery school. The fact is if you are a proponent of a western democratic society then you should be proud that no woman or man is persecuted for wearing their national, cultural or religious dress.

I can not disagree that these laws and statements are anti Islam and we can not let the fundamentalists win because we are alienating all of the moderates. We should not group all Muslims together just as we should not group all Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists etc. together. Each of these other faiths have sects that dictate dress codes to their followers, do we outlaw them next?

The blessing and burden of a western culture is tolerating the differences, if we want others to accept us then we must accept them. Yes all societies have limits and need limits, but when what is being limited affects only one group and is not for the benefit of all society then it is not democratic. Do I get to wear a ski mask in the high Alps when it is cold am I too not the same security risk as the burka wearing woman.

A note to Europe while it is struggling with immigrants. If your argument is "go home to your place of origin if you don't like our rules" then prepare to have the return of hundreds of millions of European Americans return from the the lands our fore father took from the natives of that land. Europeans did not assimilate when they left home, they annihilated.

Our past should be our guide to how to do things better not an excuse for what we do today. Tolerance is the best path we have far more in common with our fellow humans let's not dwell so much on the differences. This is what the extremists and fundamentalist do. I am sorry for France, they are taking a large step backwards in freedom. Let those who want to wear the burka wear it, and fight and oppression of women in different ways. France should ask, why are so many young women choosing to wear head coverings?

In an ignorant, uneducated place like Afghanistan , the Burkha was forced by the powers that be , and also for the sake of the family's honour.
I would say the same for most arab countries.

In France , most of these people are educated, and very few of them force their women to wear the Burkha ( as the article tells us).
Some of these women wear it, to identify themselves with Islam (whether the Koran says so or not )
Others are oppressed by their men. BUT why is this any different from a drunken non-Islamic Frenchman beating up his wife regularly ?
And of course the police will never interfere in domestic oppression.

Let us start by banning drunk wife-beating frenchman from going home and beating up their wives. Why not just put them in jail if they get drunk?
(two drinks and you are out ! )

I agree with the ban, but I think that the punishment should be on the husband and father. If a woman is found wearing the burqa, her father and husband (if she has one) should be investigated and fined.

@UltraConservative
Can a woman wear a miniskirt in a muslim country? No, it is often illegal and if not that considered rude or worse, inciting assault. So if in muslim/arab culture women are expected to behave (dress) a certain way when in a muslim country, what is wrong with westerners expecting women to behave (dress) a certain way when they are in the west? You should look at yourself before your point fingers.

Burqa doesn't belong to Middle Ages. What belongs to Middle Ages is to forbid and dictate how people behave.
France is a democracy and people should be free to wear whatever they want, be it a burqa, a mini-skirt or sun glasses!!!
Why don't you take the American example and treat people with equality rather than with hatred????

Your answer is brilliant!! Wearing burka is about freedom of choice, speech and religion and forbidding it goes against human rights and individual liberties.
Where the hell is France going? Is France going back to Middle Ages and will forbid women to wear trousers?
France is an open society and a democracy (at least I think so)!! It shouldn't oppress its own citizens and its own minorities!